A European Union petition demanding publishers maintain playable online games after server shutdowns is gaining significant traction. With over 39% of its 1 million signature goal already achieved, the initiative is closer than ever to success. Let's delve into the details.
European Gamers Unite
Nearly 400,000 Signatures Secured
The "Stop Destroying Video Games" petition has surpassed its signature threshold in seven EU nations: Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden. The impressive total currently stands at 397,943 signatures – a substantial 39% of the required 1 million.
Launched in June, the petition addresses the growing frustration over games becoming unplayable after publisher support ends. It advocates for legislation compelling publishers to ensure continued game functionality, even after official server closures.
The petition's core demand is clear: "Publishers selling or licensing video games in the EU must maintain the games in a playable state. This prevents publishers from remotely disabling games without providing reasonable alternatives for continued gameplay."
The petition cites the closure of Ubisoft's The Crew as a prime example. Despite a substantial player base (over 12 million globally), the game's servers were shut down in March 2024, rendering player progress inaccessible. This sparked outrage, even leading to lawsuits in California alleging violation of consumer protection laws.
While the petition still needs a significant number of signatures to reach its goal, EU citizens have until July 31st, 2025 to add their support. Although non-EU residents can't sign, they can help by spreading awareness of this important initiative.
